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Written by Ken Trahan, President--NewOrleans.Com/Sports | Thursday, 01 October 2009 08:28 | Hornets News
First of all, it is preseason. The game is on a week night. It is a road game. Perhaps the more daunting challenge for the Hornets to gain notice is that other ball known as a pigskin. Football remains king in Louisiana and in the New Orleans area.
The Hornets are currently out-of-sight, out-of-mind for fans. Even though the media is covering the week-long training camp, it is in Lafayette, not New Orleans. Of course, that is an effort to broaden awareness and support for the product in an effort to increase the ticket-buying base.
Training away for a short period of time also eliminates distractions. Ask Sean Payton about going to Jackson for a few years. Of course, those alleged distractions do not seem to have hindered the Saints so far this year since they trained at home.
Prep Football is in full swing, with families and friends fervently supporting the old alma mater. LSU draws over 90,000 per home game and a ton of viewers for road games. The Tigers have created additional interest by going 4-0 and earning a #4 ranking in the national polls.
The most compelling reason that the Hornets will be on the back-burner is the New Orleans Saints. Off to a 3-0 start and blessed with the NFL's top offense and an improved defense, the Saints have captured the imagination of the New Orleans area, part of the Gulf South region and the attention of national media.
Meanwhile, the Hornets train in Lafayette. Here are some early notes of interest from training camp:
1) Byron Scott is clearly in the final year of his contract. Management played a large role in overhauling the roster, especially the bench and did not extend his current deal.
2) Scott was not nudged but pushed hard by management to develop Julian Wright. This is an obvious response to the Brandon Bass and J.R. Smith situations in New Orleans where suspects became fine players elsewhere after departing New Orleans. Wright will get every chance to start at the small forward spot. Can he make a shot outside of 10 feet? Can he play within the offense? Can he avoid careless turnovers? Wright played in 54 games, starting 19 a year ago. He was just 2 for 21 from three-point range and shot 46% from the field. He committed 43 turnovers. We are about to find out if this raw talent remains raw or blossoms.
3) It is very disappointing that the Hornets biggest free agent acquisitions has an injury problem. Emeka Okafor, billed as durable, has missed practice because of soreness below his knee. All Scott will say about the injury is that the Hornets are concerned about "something he did this summer." Okafor played in all 82 games for the past two seasons with Charlotte. Part of the Hornets reasoning for dealing Tyson Chandler for Okafor was the concern that Chandler was damaged goods. Chandler failed a physical after being traded to Oklahoma City. Chandler played in just 45 games a year ago. Let the mystery begin. Remember the movie, "I Know What You Did Last Summer?" We all want to know what Okafor did this past summer and what the long-term ramifications are.
4) Another key free agent acquisition, Ike Diogu, has missed time with a sore knee, though this is less of a concern. Diogu aggravated the knee while working out, preparing for training camp.
5) James Posey, who played hurt much of last season and is not getting any younger (32), still has the lingering effects of a sore hip. Posey is the Hornets top bench option and his productivity is sorely needed so he must remain healthy. He was solid last season but played more minutes than desired, averaging 28.5 minutes per game.
6) Peja Stojakovic is entering his 12th season and has dealt with back injuries for the past three seasons. It is clear that his time as a prime-time player is over in the NBA. He is better suited for a supporting cast role as a designated sniper. The plan is to bring him off the bench to provide scoring and to reduce his minutes and the stress on his back. This is a good plan is Stojakovic is healthy, can make a few shots and if, and only if Wright can handle a starting role.
7) Early reports from our observers in Lafayette are that Darren Collison is very quick, both offensively and defensively. Marcus Thornton can get his own shot though his height may force him further out on the floor. Bobby Brown has shown quickness as well.
8) Like with Chris Paul, the plan is to reduce David West's minutes slightly. He was hurt, beaten and worn down by the end of last season. West is entering his sixth season in the league. He played nearly 40 minutes per game (39.2) in the 2008-2009 season. Paul averaged 38.5 minutes per game.
9) Darius Songalia will bring a smart, physical presence to the Hornets bench. He plays smart and takes good shots. Songaila shot 53% from the field and 89% from the free throw line with the Wizards a year ago.
10) With fewer minutes, Sean Marks will bring even higher energy to the floor. Marks played well in the second half of last season, despite having to play out-of-position at center quite frequently. While he was not as productive in the pick-and-pop game as expected, he finished plays down low, ran the floor, defended and rebounded admirably. He is more suited to the eighth or ninth-man role in the rotation, rather than the seventh man role. Marks started five games last season. He was one guy who did not back down from the Nuggets bullying tactics in the first-round playoff debacle.
While you would like to see him play and to become comfortable with Chris Paul in the framework of the New Orleans offense, the important aspect for Okafor is to be ready for the regular season opener at San Antonio on Wednesday, October 28.
If the Hornets can get everyone healthy and put all of the pieces together with an improved bench, if Wright can handle starting in acceptable fashion, if Peja can be productive off the bench, if Collison, Brown and Thornton can provide quality reserve minutes at guard, if Songaila can provide a lift off the bench up front, if Paul and West remain top echelon players in the league, if Diogu gives you what you expect and if Okafor provides more offense, good rebounding and durability, by next training camp, we may be able to invoke the phrase, "I Know What You Did Last Summer," in reference to the Hornets. The NBA championship series is in June.
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no reason to panic yet. its early on. its one of the reasons depth is key to a teams success or lack thereof.